Tailgaters

C.R. ENGLAND is changing their fleet over to the automatics. As a team our truck is a new one and therefore an automatic. What concerns me about the ' bumper barnacles' (i like that one lol) is the way the sensor on this truck slams on the engine break every so often. We've been trying to figure out what sets it off, but the best we can come up with is the angle of the road or signs. We almost got rear ended by a semi yesterday because of this and there was nothing in front of us when the brakes slammed on, but it also happens when other vehicles change lanes a little too closely, once even on the exit ramp beside our lane.

You need to get that looked at. It shouldn't be doing that unless you are actually getting to close to another vehicle.

C.R. ENGLAND is changing their fleet over to the automatics. As a team our truck is a new one and therefore an automatic. What concerns me about the ' bumper barnacles' (i like that one lol) is the way the sensor on this truck slams on the engine break every so often. We've been trying to figure out what sets it off, but the best we can come up with is the angle of the road or signs. We almost got rear ended by a semi yesterday because of this and there was nothing in front of us when the brakes slammed on, but it also happens when other vehicles change lanes a little too closely, once even on the exit ramp beside our lane.

Freightliner Cascadia with built in emergency braking and adaptive cruise, right? You should get it looked at. That's the truck I have and I don't have that problem. Sometimes a large overhead sign or car cutting me off will trigger beeping and an alarm on the dash that says "distance alert," but it almost always seems to figure it out before it hits the brakes.

I don't remember the last time mine hit the brakes with nothing in front of me, no overhead sign, or no sharp curves.

An oldie, but a goodie!

DSTURBD

They need to adjust the sensitivity on the sensor. Knight had an issue with them as well and the easiest way to get the service guys to dial it back was to tell them that shadows in an underpass on a sunny day would activate the system. It literally would, just not on every truck but was a valid excuse to turn it down a notch.

And always remember - for US while driving a rig - FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY is considered a "serious offense".

This can get ambiguous for the officer that pulls you over - but there has to be "room for someone to pass". Doesn't say that "someone" has to be an aforementioned Prius, or a full rig - but if you always follow your "seconds rule" - you will (hopefully) give yourself ample time to react to an incident, without making a pancake of whatever is in front of you.

Common "defensive driving technique" when dealing with a tailgater - suggests you add the reaction time distance of your unwanted bumper-hanger to your following distance.

Bud (as others noted) nailed it - slow down safely, and make it less advantageous for your tailgater to continue.

Had one doing it in a 4-wheeler last week (with me in mine). I'm doing 4 over in the left lane - nowhere to go in traffic (as I would have gladly moved over). This guy is making "shooting gun fingers" at me while he honks and flashes (one day out of the hospital for me - no firearm in my belt). At that point, I slow down to 5-under. Wait for him to dangerously weave around me (and other traffic), get his tag number, and make a quick call to FHP.

Rick

I was traveling on US 278 in Alabama one evening, following another big truck, I was maintaining an adequate following distance. I had another big truck behind me, trying to push me down the highway, when the driver in front of me came over the CB, "watch out, here it comes!!" Unaware of what was about to happen, I eased off the gas and covered the brake. The driver in front of me had a deer hit his truck, it popped out from under his trailer, I slowed to minimize any damage to my truck, but my trailgater wasn't so lucky. He started telling what he thought of my family linage as the carcass struck his grill and headlight. My only response was, I thanked the driver in front of me for the warning and the driver behind me an apology, but recommend he maintain a safe following distance.

And always remember - for US while driving a rig - FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY is considered a "serious offense".

This can get ambiguous for the officer that pulls you over - but there has to be "room for someone to pass". Doesn't say that "someone" has to be an aforementioned Prius, or a full rig - but if you always follow your "seconds rule" - you will (hopefully) give yourself ample time to react to an incident, without making a pancake of whatever is in front of you.

Common "defensive driving technique" when dealing with a tailgater - suggests you add the reaction time distance of your unwanted bumper-hanger to your following distance.

Bud (as others noted) nailed it - slow down safely, and make it less advantageous for your tailgater to continue.

Had one doing it in a 4-wheeler last week (with me in mine). I'm doing 4 over in the left lane - nowhere to go in traffic (as I would have gladly moved over). This guy is making "shooting gun fingers" at me while he honks and flashes (one day out of the hospital for me - no firearm in my belt). At that point, I slow down to 5-under. Wait for him to dangerously weave around me (and other traffic), get his tag number, and make a quick call to FHP.

Rick

I was traveling on US 278 in Alabama one evening, following another big truck, I was maintaining an adequate following distance. I had another big truck behind me, trying to push me down the highway, when the driver in front of me came over the CB, "watch out, here it comes!!" Unaware of what was about to happen, I eased off the gas and covered the brake. The driver in front of me had a deer hit his truck, it popped out from under his trailer, I slowed to minimize any damage to my truck, but my trailgater wasn't so lucky. He started telling what he thought of my family linage as the carcass struck his grill and headlight. My only response was, I thanked the driver in front of me for the warning and the driver behind me an apology, but recommend he maintain a safe following distance.

You mean that you left the backstrap and tenderloin?

After two big trucks have run over it and then a third, it was more like a red smear with a head. No tenderloin or back strap was noticeable

Miracleofmagick, I am one of those frustrating drivers who creeps along leaving enough space in front of me that I hardly have to brake at all in stop and go traffic.

Paul and Robert, thank you. I will DEFINITELY look into that, and the shadows might actually be a possibility. I thought maybe a bird? I've learned how to recover from it fairly quickly, but it really is dangerous. We do get the beeps from some of the overhead signs and bridges, but no 'distance' alert. It just goes from twelfth to tenth with no warning. It would continue to downshift, but I usually catch it there...doesn't startle me nearly so badly now as it first did. I think the engine break goes into high right off.

And folks, that's how a trucker tenderizes their steak.